Best Meal of the Day

A brunch reception can be festive or formal, and it’s guaranteed to be a favorite.

By Rita Barnes

Cuisiniers’ New Orleans-style eggs Benedict and bananas Foster French toast

Roberto Gonzalez

An up-and-coming trend, brunch wedding receptions are a good option for the couple who wants to balance a casual atmosphere with a selection of delectable menu items. For this reason, many local caterers have created innovative dishes for this mid-morning meal that will delight your friends and family members.

OFFER GUESTS A CREATION STATION

If you’re planning a buffet, consider a station where your guests can tailor their meal to their own tastes. Arthur’s Creative Events & Catering offers a new spin on a conventional breakfast dish: the Lolli Waffle Station. Guests can choose from traditional, chocolate, or cinnamon-bun waffles that are folded over a stick, lollipop-style. Toppings such as sprinkles, salted caramel and chocolate sauce, cream cheese frosting, and syrup are available to sweeten them.

The other half of brunch is, of course, lunch. Uncommon Catering presents a grilled cheese bar with bread choices that include Chicago hard bread, Italian, sourdough, rye, wheat, and white, plus an assortment of cheeses—fontina, Muenster, provolone, Parmesan, fresh mozzarella, cheddar, and Brie. A selection of unique jams in flavors such as blueberry/balsamic/thyme and strawberry/basil will please those who like to mix sweet with savory.

PASS THE HORS D’OEUVRES

Whether you choose to serve appetizers during the cocktail hour or pass them throughout the entire reception, brunch fare lends itself to bite-sized hors d’oeuvres. Puff ’n Stuff Events and Catering marries strawberries and champagne in one of their brunch favorites—whole strawberries filled with sweet mascarpone cheese and topped with toasted almonds. It’s best served with a mimosa cocktail.

For those couples having a traditional Southern wedding, don’t forget the chicken and waffles. Arthur’s Catering, 4 Rivers Smokehouse, and Uncommon Catering offer miniature versions of this Deep South classic, with toppings that include maple syrup, cream gravy, ginger/pear jam, and jalapeño cherry syrup. 4 Rivers also has miniature ham and biscuit or chicken and biscuit sandwiches, and Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine and Events makes mini frittatas in varieties such as spinach and sundried tomato.

BREAK WITH TRADITION

Even if you choose a more casual brunch menu, you can still wow your guests with beautifully laid tables, classically coordinated centerpieces, and a delicious sit-down meal. For a main course, consider a fusion of cultural flavors—chorizo and potatoes sliced into a tortilla, and bananas Foster French toast from Cuisiniers. Or keep it sweet with Arthur’s peach and mascarpone brioche French toast topped with cinnamon maple syrup.

For egg fans, Cuisiniers cooks up a NOLA (New Orleans)-style Benedict on a house-made herb-and-cheddar biscuit topped with pulled pork and a poached egg covered in mornay sauce. Uncommon Catering serves it Italian-style on a toasted English muffin topped with a poached egg, then layered with crispy Prosciutto di Parma, Hollandaise sauce, slices of Roma tomato, and fresh basil.